Northwestern University Alumni

Opening Keynote 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.

The All-Or-Nothing Marriage

Historical shifts in the institution of marriage in America have produced two major consequences. First, the quality of average marriages has weakened over time. Second, the quality of the best marriages has strengthened over time. In tandem, these two consequences have pushed marriage toward an all-or-nothing state.

Eli Finkel is a professor at Northwestern University, where he has appointments at Weinberg College and the Kellogg School of Management and holds the Martin J. and Patricia Koldyke Outstanding Teaching Professorship. In his role as director of Northwestern’s Relationships and Motivation Lab (RAMLAB), Finkel has published more than 130 scientific papers and is a regular contributor to the opinion section of The New York Times. His research, which is supported by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, has been honored with the Daniel M. Wegner Theoretical Innovation Prize. The Economist has identified Finkel as “one of the leading lights in the realm of relationship psychology.”

Closing Keynote 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The Purpose Path: Connecting Your Soul with Your Role

Many of the world’s most beloved companies—Apple, Disney, Google—are not simply profit-driven, but purpose-driven. They let the reason for which they were created drive what they do every day. But what about us—how can we define our purpose, the “why” behind the work we do? How can we move beyond having just a job or career and identify a meaningful calling that allows us to connect our soul with our role?

In this keynote session, award-winning Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management professor, pastor, and global executive adviser Nicholas Pearce will engage in conversation and share insights from his new book, The Purpose Path. Drawing upon his years of experience at the intersection of business and faith, Pearce will explore how we can find the inspiration to pursue more than just a paycheck and ultimately fulfill our authentic life’s work.

The Antidote to Conventional Wisdom

Since the Great Recession and Panic of 2008, conventional wisdom has trumpeted a near endless stream of consternation and concern. Cries that “the end is nigh” have rung throughout the expansion, and whenever the market dips towards correction territory, the wails and gnashing of teeth reach a fever pitch. Thankfully, time has proven conventional wisdom wrong time and again. Through it all, Brian Wesbury has been a voice of reason, an antidote to conventional wisdom. The economy is still better than you think—and Wesbury will tell you why.

Supporting Language Development in Children with Developmental Delays: From Early Identification to Effective Intervention

Most children learn to talk from interacting with their parents and caregivers. However, as many as two in five children have difficulty learning language for any number of different reasons—genetic, neurological, and environmental. Early identification and intervention is critical to maximizing long-term outcomes for children with early language delays. In this talk, clinician scientist Megan Roberts will discuss how an interdisciplinary collaboration of Northwestern researchers is addressing the important challenge of ensuring that all children with language delays are identified as early as possible and once identified, receive effective intervention.

Cardiovascular Health across the Lifetime

In this talk, Allen will discuss how ideal cardiovascular health is defined at different stages in life, from childhood through older age. Her presentation will focus on how to improve cardiovascular health and the long-term benefits of maintaining good cardiovascular health across the lifetime.

Telling the Story of Medieval Africa: Caravans of Gold, Fragments in Time

Exchange across the Sahara Desert was central to a vast and interconnected economy during the medieval period and stimulated the movement of things, people, and religious practices, especially Islam. Iconic works of medieval art—including gold leaf embellished books and panel paintings, ivory boxes and sculptures, lusterware ceramics, and delicate glass vessels—were tied to this trade. Today Africa’s rich medieval past is known primarily through fragmented remains. Join Kathleen Berzock for an overview of the Caravans of Gold, Fragments in Time exhibition that brings together artworks and fragments to reveal a surprising view of the Middle Ages. The lecture will be followed by a visit to the exhibition.

Northwestern Then and Now: A Look through the Archives

Since World War II, Northwestern has been massively, even fundamentally, transformed as an educational, social, and cultural institution. Drawing on the vast and deep holdings of University Archives and displaying key and illustrative documents and artifacts, Kevin Leonard will trace the physical, educational, and demographic changes that have formed the contemporary institution we know today.

Out of the Basement and into the Boardroom: The Business of Cannabis

The business of cannabis is booming, with predictions that the United States cannabis market could see sales of $25 billion by 2025 and, if federally legalized, $75 billion per year by 2030. Cannabis stocks are now publicly traded and law schools are offering cannabis law courses. Dina Rollman will provide an overview of the burgeoning industry and its opportunities and challenges.

Exploring Our Cosmic Future with the Hubble Space Telescope

Through its stunning images of stars, nebulae, and galaxies over the past 28 years, the Hubble Space Telescope has revolutionized our understanding of the universe and inspired students of all ages. In this talk, David Meyer will describe how Hubble’s recent views of dying stars, colliding galaxies, and the distant universe have given us a glimpse into the future of the Sun, our Milky Way Galaxy, and the entire cosmos itself. Meyer has frequently utilized the Hubble Telescope in researching the composition and structure of the Galactic interstellar medium during his 32-year faculty career at Northwestern. A hallmark of his “Highlights of Astronomy” course for non-science majors at Northwestern has long been the use of Hubble images to bring the latest astronomy research into the introductory classroom.

Art of the Real

Documentaries are needed now more than ever to parse fact from fiction, engage communities in discussion, and ponder timeless existential enigmas. In five short years, Northwestern’s MFA in Documentary Media program has graduated students whose films have played at top international festivals, including Sundance and Lincoln Center’s New Directors/New Films. Join acting director Kyle Henry and founding director Debra Tolchinsky in discussion with recent graduates.

Global Collaboration in the Twenty-First Century: Lessons from the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster

Northwestern Buffett is charting a new path for addressing international challenges by building a transnational alliance of universities and institutions to collaboratively catalyze new ideas and train future leaders. In this talk, executive director Annelise Riles and professor Hirokazu Miyazaki will discuss Buffett’s mission and impact through the lens of the 2011 Japanese nuclear accident.

Reshaping the Residential Experience

As the Housing Master Plan literally reshapes residential spaces, it is radically reshaping the experience of living on campus. From a demonstration kitchen and meditation room to active learning classrooms and faculty apartments, Northwestern undergraduates have more outlets than ever to build community, hang out, and tinker right where they live. Through the intentional combination of dedicated staff and state-of-the-art facilities, Student Affairs has found new ways to actualize its vision as full partners in advancing student learning and success. Hear about the exciting initiatives that are enriching the residential experience, see pictures of recently completed spaces, and get a preview of upcoming construction and renovation projects.